North Carolina Gyms Drop 'CrossFit' After CEO Comments (2024)

NORTH CAROLINA – Gyms around the world are dropping the CrossFit brand after the CEO, Greg Glassman, made disparaging comments about the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd.

Over the past weeks, many companies have come forward to take stances on issues surrounding Floyd’s death. When pushed for their stance, Glassman called an affiliate “delusional” for bringing up the subject.

Additionally, Glassman replied to a post from Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington which read "racism is a public health issue" with “FLOYD-19” and “Your (sic) failed model quarantined us and now you're going to model a solution to racism? George Floyd's brutal murder sparked riots nationally. Quarantine alone is "accompanied in every age and under all political regimes by an undercurrent of suspicion, distrust, and riots." Thanks!”

It's FLOYD-19.

— Greg Glassman (@CrossFitCEO) June 6, 2020

Your failed model quarantined us and now you're going to model a solution to racism? George Floyd's brutal murder sparked riots nationally. Quarantine alone is "accompanied in every age and under all political regimes by an undercurrent of suspicion, distrust, and riots." Thanks!

— Greg Glassman (@CrossFitCEO) June 7, 2020

Gyms across North Carolina are now vowing to dissociate themselves from the wildly popular workout brand.

"This is an extended family and if someone was to say something upsetting to your family, your response would be immediate," says Steve Johnson, 50. He owns the now former CrossFit RDU, and is considering rebranding it to RDUFit.

Raleigh Crossfit, which has changed its name on social media to “Raleigh Strength” responded to the comments this weekend by saying, “Raleigh CrossFit is Raleigh CrossFit and it has been built by a Raleigh community that shares our core values as a diverse, safe, inclusive, supportive and respectful place for everyone. We have not and will not stand with anyone who believes otherwise.”

Raleigh CrossFit is a unique community. Our vision is and always will be that of inclusion with the common goal of...

Posted by Raleigh Strength onSunday, June 7, 2020

In Greensboro, College Hill CrossFit, which has not officially dissociated from the brand, sent out a message to its community saying, “In light of recent events and a growing dissonance between our values and the recent comments posted by CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman, we plan to focus our energy on navigating this to ensure the best steps are taken.”

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College Hill will always strive to be a beacon of light to everyone who visits. We are a strong community where everyone belongs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ At the heart of belonging is safety. That is why from the origination of College Hill, we have worked to ensure that all of our members feel safe both physically and emotionally. Our working premise has always been to do good for one is to do good for all—that to do good for others is to do good for yourself. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In this moment in time, we are given an opportunity to rise to the occasion, to meet a moment with as much integrity, grace, and humility as we possibly can. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Today and everyday, we stand unequivocally with our black members and black staff members. We see you. We hear you. We stand with you. You are such important members of and friends within our College Hill community. We have not all walked your path and lived in your skin, and so we acknowledge that we have much to learn. But this moment is also one for us to learn more and to learn better how to stand with you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” ~ Martin Luther King At College Hill we talk a lot about how our #amazingcommunity is a reflection of our strength inside and outside the gym. Today, more than ever, we are challenged to step into that truth and to walk this talk. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “WE” are College Hill. “WE” are an amazing community... “WE” define us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In light of recent events and a growing dissonance between our values and the recent comments posted by CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman, we plan to focus our energy on navigating this to ensure the best steps are taken. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fitness I Community I Mindset ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #chc #collegehillcrossfit #oneamazingcommunity #strongertogether #tpts #chcstrong #crossfit #greensboro #community #crossfitaffiliate #fitness #community #health #nutrition #mindset #morethanjustabox #fitnesswithfriends #nutrition #pkseries #blacklivesmatter

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Popular athletic wear company Reebok, which is owned by Adidas, also cut ties with the brand this weekend.

For clarification, “CrossFit” is a fitness company that’s affiliates pay to be associated with.

As an AI language model, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. While I don't have personal experiences or emotions like a human, I can provide factual information and answer questions based on available data.

Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in the article you provided:

CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman's Disparaging Comments

The article mentions that Greg Glassman, the CEO of CrossFit, made disparaging comments about the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. Glassman's comments were criticized by many, leading to gyms around the world dropping the CrossFit brand. Glassman's response to an affiliate and a post from Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington drew significant backlash .

Gyms Dissociating from CrossFit

The article states that gyms across North Carolina are vowing to dissociate themselves from the CrossFit brand. Some gyms have already changed their names on social media and are considering rebranding. For example, CrossFit RDU is considering rebranding to RDUFit, and Raleigh CrossFit changed its name to "Raleigh Strength" on social media. These gyms expressed their commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and respect for everyone.

Reebok Cutting Ties with CrossFit

The article mentions that Reebok, a popular athletic wear company owned by Adidas, also cut ties with the CrossFit brand. This decision by Reebok further highlights the impact of Glassman's comments on the brand's reputation and partnerships.

In summary, the article discusses the fallout from CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman's disparaging comments about the protests surrounding George Floyd's death. Gyms in North Carolina are dissociating themselves from the CrossFit brand, and Reebok has also cut ties with CrossFit. These actions reflect the gyms' commitment to inclusivity and respect for all individuals.

Please note that the information provided is based on the article you shared, and additional sources may provide further insights or updates on the situation.

North Carolina Gyms Drop 'CrossFit' After CEO Comments (2024)

FAQs

North Carolina Gyms Drop 'CrossFit' After CEO Comments? ›

NORTH CAROLINA – Gyms around the world are dropping the CrossFit brand after the CEO, Greg Glassman

Greg Glassman
CrossFit is a branded fitness regimen that involves constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. The method was developed by Greg Glassman, who founded CrossFit with Lauren Jenai in 2000, with CrossFit its registered trademark.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › CrossFit
, made disparaging comments about the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. Over the past weeks, many companies have come forward to take stances on issues surrounding Floyd's death.

How much did Greg Glassman sell CrossFit for? ›

Many CrossFitters, Muhammad included, didn't think the brand's issues could be solved so long as Glassman maintained full ownership. The cofounder of CrossFit, Greg Glassman, sold CrossFit for an estimated $200 million.

What happened to CrossFit CEO? ›

The chief executive of CrossFit has quit after causing offence with remarks about the death of George Floyd and the resulting protests.

Why did Glassman leave CrossFit? ›

Embattled CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman is resigning after he sparked outrage over his response to nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality. “Those who know me know that my sole issue is the chronic disease epidemic,” Glassman said.

Why are CrossFit gyms changing their names? ›

CrossFit gyms around the world are rebranding after the CEO's insensitive comments about George Floyd: 'They don't own the workout' A growing number of athletes, brands, and gyms have severed ties with CrossFit following a controversial comment from company CEO Greg Glassman on the death of George Floyd.

How much does the average CrossFit gym owner make? ›

How Much Do Crossfit Owner Jobs Pay per Year? $37,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $87,500 is the 75th percentile.

How much is the CEO of CrossFit worth? ›

List of the Top 10 Fitness Industry Billionaires
NameNotable VenturesEstimated Net Worth
Mark Mastrov24 Hour Fitness$1 billion
Greg GlassmanCrossFit$1 billion
Sun WeiminDecathlon$1 billion
Ben FrancisGymshark$1 billion
6 more rows
Dec 22, 2023

Why did Greg sell CrossFit? ›

The sale follows outcry over comments Mr. Glassman made about the death of George Floyd and reports of sexual harassment under his management.

Why did Reebok leave CrossFit? ›

Reebok ended ties with CrossFit after founder Greg Glassman replied to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation on Twitter after the global health research center's director called racism a public health issue.

What is the controversy with CrossFit? ›

Critics have accused CrossFit, Inc. of using dangerous movements and inappropriate levels of intensity, and allowing underqualified individuals to become CrossFit Trainers. In response to these criticisms, CrossFit, Inc.

Why did athletes boycott CrossFit? ›

The fittest athletes in the world are boycotting CrossFit following an insensitive comment made by the company's CEO after the death of George Floyd. The functional fitness behemoth, which was founded in 2000 by Greg Glassman, was also facing criticism for its lack of public support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

What did CrossFit CEO say? ›

On June 6, Glassman sparked outraged among CrossFit gym owners, their members, and the larger fitness community after belittling the racial strife highlighted in America in the wake of George Floyd's death, calling it “FLOYD-19” on Twitter and reportedly saying on a Zoom call with gym owners, “I do not mourn George ...

What are the lawsuits against CrossFit? ›

A Missouri man has become the first individual to successfully sue CrossFit after an exercise at his local gym left him injured. The man was found 50 percent responsible for his injuries: CrossFit and a gym trainer involved in the accident were each found 25 percent responsible for the man's injury accident.

Why do CrossFit girls have names? ›

CrossFit® Founder, Greg Glassman, drew inspiration from the way the National Weather Service names storms after women, and he thought it was fitting because these workouts hit you like a storm. These "Girls" represent a group of workouts named after pioneering women in the world of CrossFit®.

Why are CrossFit bodies different? ›

We can conclude that the CrossFit® athlete has a low amount of fat mass and a small relative size, which is an advantage when training with bodyweight exercises, and a high muscle mass that provide benefits when strength training.

How much did Reebok pay CrossFit athletes? ›

The Reebok Bonus Program, which is now in its second year, awarded $258,000 in total prize money across all divisions at the CrossFit Games to athletes who won an event wearing an pair of eligible Reebok shoes. The program awards $12,000 to individuals and teams, and $1200 to age group and adaptive divisions.

When did Greg Glassman sell CrossFit? ›

On June 24, 2020, following the outcry after Glassman's comments regarding the murder of George Floyd it was announced that he was selling the company to Eric Roza, former CEO of Datalogix, in partnership with investment firm Berkshire Partners. Roza assumed the role of CEO after the conclusion of the sale in July.

How much is the CrossFit brand worth? ›

The value of the Crossfit business, which is based on a branded exercise regimen focused on high intensity workouts, has previously been estimated at about $4bn (£3.1bn). It is affiliated with about 13,000 gyms in 158 countries worldwide.

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